Category Archives: Outdoor activities

I can’t even think of the last time or if I have ever been “tubing”. I thought I would be essentially floating in a huge inter-tube, not the cadillac chair I was given, it was awesome! In Symco we got in right at the Symco Bridge across from Boondocks Bar, and floated the few miles to Fahser’s bridge. It is quite a thing to figure out how your going to carry and on what tubes, because as in many activities, it is all about the drink and the nosh. Floating along the river, we stopped at a few sandy places along the way to keep up our strength with the occasional snack, and be able to visit with one another, and joke and talk smart. We were passed by a group of people who clearly were enjoying the river and the beautiful day as much as we were. The weather was perfect and so was the company, it was a great time. Thank you to Ann, Diana, Carrie, Gina, Kimberly and Stephanie for making it a great day and a lot of fun. So at the end of the journey is Fahser’s bridge, which it seemed like a good idea to jump off the bridge so that is just what Ann and I did.

What a great day! There is so much to do and see right here in Waupaca County, don’t miss it!

I so enjoyed spending time with friends at their home on the river tonight. We sat on the patio having drinks and a nosh and waited for the rain to clear so we could take the kayaks down to the river. Diana’s mom Ahnna and her husband Ken have a beautiful place on the river, a gorgeous yard, which I understood from Ahnna is due to Ken and his green thumb. Once the rain passed, we grabbed the kayaks and Ann and Diana kayaked around the bend in the river and back. Now to say that I went that far kayaking would be–oh I don’t know–not true. However once I figured out how I was going to get into the kayak, which I know sounds pretty easy and maybe it is. For me though I had to figure out how not to come into contact with the water…right away. So once in the kayak, and Ahnna kept talking about I needed a life jacket and could I swim, sheesh, it was making me nervous. Bless her heart, jeepers creepers I needed to get more comfortable in the kayak. I am not going to lie, there were some tippy moments, I made the gals nervous but it all worked out. Paddled around a bit not far from the dock I must admit, but more than I actually thought I would. I mean let’s be honest, I thought the only place I would wind up in is the river, but that didn’t happen, woot woot!

Once back to the dock, now I had to figure out how I was going to get out without taking the proverbial bath, and that isn’t necessarily an easy thing getting out of a kayak takes a bit of finesse, and then there was the way I did it. Which I kept dry and hoisted myself out of the kayak, of course with Ahnna and Diana holding the kayak steady and Ann in her kayak on the side. It helps to have the support of good friends whenever trying anything new. The support of good friends is important always.

So thanks to Diana, Ann and Ahnna for such a fun evening. Diana and Ann are the best, such fun and up for any adventure. Thank you to Ken and Ahnna for opening your beautiful home to us and letting us experience if just for a little while, life on the river.

As you may or may not know, my goal for 2014 is to choose different things to do in and around Waupaca County, and not just to blog about them. So my adventure of choice for the month of February was to try my luck (and I use the term loosely) at cross country skiing. We do have some of the loveliest spots to cross country ski here in Waupaca County, one of them being the Iola Winter Sports Club. For those of you that are not familiar with Iola, Wisconsin; it is steeped in Nordic history and have become one of the communities in Waupaca County that has embraced their history from Vidar of Iola, the wooden viking statue that stands proudly to Lutefisk suppers, Iola is a charming community full of people that are proud of their Nordic heritage. So it is in this place that we find ourselves today. As we pull up to the Winter Sports Club and walk into the Chalet, we are greeted by two of the many volunteers that man the Chalet. Ann, Diana and I let them know that this is our first time skiing and they get us outfitted with ski boots, poles and skis. Once we have the boots on and the rest of our gear, we head outside to get a quick run down of how to put the skis on and get the poles, stick to the tracks and a bit of trail etiquette,and we’re off. As Ann, Diana and I are getting the hang of “sliding” on the skis, (and for myself I really am using the term loosely) we face a choice, whether to go to the left or to the right. Diana wisely informs me that “they said to stay to the left” and of course what do I say? You guessed it, oh let’s just keep to the right, that hill doesn’t look that bad. Never judge a book by its cover is wisdom, even when deciding, which trail to take when cross country skiing, because just let me say there were more after that, and no I am not talking mountains, however when you are out for the first time, probably a bit more then you want to contend with right away. I have to say Diana was a natural, she picked up the whole gliding, sliding motion really quickly. Ann, did really well, she and I did take off our ski’s at one point and walk a bit and even when she was out of sight and all I could hear was a lengthy scream, she stayed standing and on her skis. They are both so much fun and a joy to be around. Last but certainly not least is me, I did enjoy the cross country skiing, but have to admit that I might of spent as much time perfecting the art of falling (and perfecting is in the eye of the beholder) as I did on the skis. It really doesn’t matter from my standpoint, if you fall backwards, forward or to the side, I must say I found all of them equally humbling. The upside of it was, I really knew how to get those ski’s on and off by the end of the trail.

We have had guests at our Inn that have come simply for the outdoors in winter, and some have chosen the cross country skiing at the Iola Winter Sports Club with 8 miles of trails, and 4 1/2 miles which are lit for night skiing it is a beautiful place to see and be a part of even if on a sunny albeit windy day in February. We were told that the conditions were “challenging” today, because of the past few days of weather. It was fun to be outdoors, with friends and trying something I had never done before. Not quite sure what next month will bring, but you will see it here as we learn together more about Waupaca County and the many things there are to experience.

And to quote Don Pardo the voice of the sports bloopers segment on the Today Show….”Until next time……if there is a next time”!

Diana up on her ski’s and yours truly on the ground, and Ann bringing up the rear with the camera, love it!